Ocean City Police Department Showcases New Way of Saving Lives

The distressed swimmer was flailing in the water off the 12th Street beach in Ocean City, desperately trying to stay afloat long enough for someone to come to his rescue.

Soon, a small drone flew out over the ocean and hovered above the swimmer before dropping an inflatable rescue tube into the water that prevented him from drowning – giving a lifeguard time to reach him.

Watched by hundreds of spectators lining the beach, this simulated rescue Wednesday afternoon demonstrated the lifesaving capability of one of the police department’s new advanced drones heading into the busy summer tourism season.

“When these calls come out, we all know that seconds count,” Lt. Mark Pancoast, head of the police department’s drone unit, noted of the precious moments that rescuers have in saving someone from drowning.

Pancoast explained that drones can quickly reach a distressed swimmer to drop an inflatable tube in the water that will allow them to stay afloat while lifeguards, police officers and firefighters rush to the rescue.

The drones can, in effect, act as a first responder during emergencies in the early morning or late evening when lifeguards are not on duty.

If an emergency 911 call comes in, the police department, fire department and beach patrol are all alerted at the same time to take action. A drone can quickly be deployed as a lifesaving measure before police officers, firefighters and lifeguards arrive on the scene to undertake a rescue.

“We’re trying to give that extra few minutes to save a life,” Pancoast said.

    Police Lt. Bob Reichanek, who played the role of the distressed swimmer, holds the flotation tube dropped to him by the drone.
  

During the simulated rescue off the 12th Street beach, police Lt. Bob Reichanek played the role of a distressed swimmer about 100 yards out in the ocean.

Remotely controlled by its operator, a drone was launched from the beach patrol’s headquarters at 12th Street to fly out over the water and then drop the inflatable tube next to Reichanek to save him from drowning. Lifeguard Andrew Shaw, a lieutenant with the beach patrol, paddled out to bring Reichanek back to shore to complete the rescue.

“Perfect. It really worked well,” Reichanek said afterward of how the drone helped to save him.

Shaw also gave the drone high marks, calling it “futuristic, almost” in its capability to drop an inflatable tube to save lives.

“It’s most important to get that person floating if they are distressed in the water,” Shaw said.

    Members of the police department's drone unit use computer screens to watch for flight traffic in the area.
  

The drone that came to Reichanek’s aid is equipped with four cameras that allowed the drone to “identify me as the victim,” he said.

“This technology works great,” Reichanek said.

The police department’s 11-member drone unit was formed last year and represents a critical advancement in public safety technology.

Two of the drones are equipped with inflatable tubes to help rescue distressed swimmers.

“The costs are going down and the benefits are going up, so it’s a win-win for everybody,” Pancoast said of the lifesaving technology.

In addition to the deployment of inflatable lifesaving tubes, the department’s drones can be used for search operations, thermal mapping and to keep an eye on the crowds that gather on the Boardwalk and other parts of town during the bustling summer season.

    Beach Patrol Lt. Andrew Shaw and police Lt. Bob Reichanek return to shore after the simulated rescue off the 12th Street beach.
  

Pancoast noted that a drone equipped with a thermal camera helped police recently to catch an assault suspect at night after he was running on the roof of a building.

The drones’ thermal, zoom and wide-angle cameras give the police the capability to see things from “a different vantage point,” Pancoast said.

Ocean City is one of the Jersey Shore towns that have been dealing with large groups of troublemaking teenagers disrupting the pivotal summer season in recent years. Pancoast said the drones can help police watch out for groups of unruly teens – possibly helping to deter crime.

“They at least see the drone and, hopefully, they think twice about what they want to do,” he said of the teens.

    Members of the media and beachgoers watch as the simulated rescue gets underway.